Christmas tree base or the like

Abstract

A Christmas tree base or the like with a cross-shaped stand or the like, on the legs of which holders for the trunk or the like are provided, which by springs are capable to draw the holders to the center of the base. A cam disc is located centrally in the base. The cams of said disc upon rotation in one direction push the holders outward from the center. Upon rotation in the other direction, the springs draw the holders inward to the center whereby the holders with their upper portion abut the trunk. The holders are slidable on the legs with a certain play, so that a "chest drawer effect" arises upon abutment of the holders to the trunk and thereby locking is effected. The springs, therefore, can be dimensioned so small that the rotation of the disc in one direction or the other does not require much force, because the disc preferably is located in such a plane that it automatically neutralizes the action of the "chest drawer effect".

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A Christmas tree base or similar holder of the kind where a preferably cross-shaped stand with horizontal legs forms a support against the bearer (floor), where on each leg a slidable holder is provided, which with a tubular portion encloses a leg with a certain play, and springs or the like are arranged to draw the holders to the centre of the stand, which holders are provided with upright means having hooks abutting the trunk or the like, and a central disc provided with cams corresponding in number to the legs of the stand is mounted rotatably in order upon rotation in one direction to engage the holders and to push the holders outward from the centre against the action of said springs, and upon rotation in the other direction to cause the holders to slide inward to the centre by action of said springs, characterized in that the aforesaid play between the respective tubular member and arm is so adjusted, that upon abutment of the upper end of the holder to the trunk or the like the tubular member is positioned obliquely in relation to the arm, so that the trunk effectively is retained by the substantial increase in friction arising by the friction between said member and the stand leg enclosed thereby (chest drawer effect). 
     
     
       2. A Christmas tree base or the like as defined in claim 1, characterized in that in the centre of the stand a pin or the like is provided to fix the lower cut surface of the tree or the like, and that the pin constitutes the centre of rotation for the cam disc. 
     
     
       3. A Christmas tree base or the like as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the centre of the stand is formed as a conic water cup, and the shell surface of the cup is the bearing centre for the cam disc. 
     
     
       4. A Christmas tree base or the like as defined in claim 3, characterized in that a central block with a central upright point is provided to be fitted into the bottom of the cup for co-operation with the lower cut surface of the tree or the like. 
     
     
       5. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base for engaging the lower end of the trunk of a Christmas tree to receive the weight of the tree, a plurality of generally horizontal, support legs extending radially outwardly from the base; a holder associated with each leg, each holder having a lower end portion slidably attached to the respective leg for sliding movement therealong and each holder having an upright portion including a radially inwardly extending part engagable with the tree trunk at a location above the legs, the cooperation between said lower portion of each holder and the respective leg being such that outward tilting of the holder relative to the respective leg results in selflocking of the lower portion thereof to the respective leg due to an increase in friction between the slidably engaged surfaces whereby each holder becomes self-locked when its radially inwardly extending part is pressed against the tree trunk; spring means urging the lower end portions of the holders radially inwardly, and means for releasing the holders from their self-locked positions, said means including a central horizontal disc having a cam surface corresponding to each hold, said disc being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in order upon rotation in one direction to engage the lower portions of the holders and push same radially outward against the action of the springs thereby unlocking said lower portions of the holders from the legs and upon rotation in the other direction to permit the holders to slide radially inward under the action of said spring means. 
     
     
       6. A stand as in claim 5 wherein said base includes a conic cup coaxial with said disc for receiving the lower end of the tree trunk and further includes an upwardly projecting pin within and coaxial with the cup for engaging and fixing the tree trunk. 
     
     
       7. A stand as in claim 5 wherein said base includes an upwardly projecting pin for engaging and fixing the lower end of the tree trunk, said pin forming the center of rotation of said disc.